MOSCOW: Russia and Ukraine reported repelling numerous air attacks late Tuesday and early Wednesday in border regions, resulting in intensified bombardment of border regions that forced evacuations of civilians on both sides, western media reported.
Russian officials claimed that air defense systems successfully defused missiles and drone attacks launched by Ukraine over the Belgorod, Kursk, and Voronezh regions bordering Ukraine. Additionally, drones were intercepted in the deeper regions of Russia, specifically in the Saratov region.
The intense bombing of Ukraine’s northeastern border region of Sumy by Russia prompted Kyiv to initiate evacuations of civilians. In a statement, Russia’s Defence Ministry via the Telegram, stated that air defense units intercepted a dozen rockets and missiles over the Belgorod region by 10 p.m. (1900 GMT) Tuesday, followed by two more missiles, including a US-made Patriot, over the neighboring Kursk region early Wednesday.
Governor Roman Busargin of the Saratov region reported the interception of two Ukraine-launched drones near the city of Engels, which hosts a strategic military base. No casualties or significant damages were reported in any of the Ukraine-launched attacks. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov of Belgorod announced that 1,200 children from the most vulnerable areas would be temporarily relocated to other Russian regions by the end of the week, with approximately 9,000 individuals requesting evacuation.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned Russia’s ongoing attacks on Sumy in his nightly video address, citing nearly 200 guided bombs dropped by Russians since the beginning of the month, resulting in destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Authorities in Sumy reported 30 instances of shelling on Tuesday, with one fatality in the border community of Velyka Pysarivka, where evacuation efforts commenced last week, leading to the evacuation of about 200 individuals from endangered areas near Velyka Pysarivka, as confirmed by Ukrainian local officials.
Both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians in the conflict initiated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago, which has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions.
